By Caron Schwartz
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of watercolors at the Florida Watercolor Society 53rd Annual Exhibition 8/8-10/13 at Gallery at Creative Pinellas. At almost 1,000 members FWS is one of the largest state watercolor societies in the country. https://bit.ly/florida-watercolors
Meet the chickens in Ybor and see how the area has changed at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts’ Photo Ybor: Then and Now. The exhibition chronicles the evolution of Ybor City from its founding in 1886 to the present day. Now through 11/17. www.fmopa.org
Old is new again at the Museum of Fine Arts’s exhibition of its latest acquisitions. Objects range from the 17th century to the present, representing cultures from Japan, India, France, West Africa, and the US, and featuring media from stoneware to collage. Now through 11/10. www.mfastpete.org
Mom told me to have a Plan B Art history, visual and performing arts, and graphic design majors have the bleakest job prospects among all college majors in the US, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (NYFED). So tip your server – she’s probably an underemployed sculptor, dancer, or art history prof. https://nyfed.org/4bFfKQT
Don’t quit your day job and get creative at the Morean Art Center. Classes range from Beginning Drawing with Carmen Cruz, weekly on Wednesdays from 2-4:30pm 7/24-8/28 to Chinese Brush Painting with Jo-An Thomas, weekly on Thursdays from 10:15am-1pm 9/19-10/24. And many more! Discover your passion at www.moreanartscenter.org/classes
Arts & Crafts at MAACM
Enjoy a night out at the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Museum drinking wine, meeting new friends, and creating a fused-glass masterpiece. 8/9, 5-7pm. https://bit.ly/maacm-studio-sips
Key notes Now in the seventh decade of his professional life, the incomparable Herbie Hancock returns to the Mahaffey Theater 9/15 at 8pm. https://bit.ly/mahaffey-herbie
Fable at freeFall Who has the right to tell your story? Doug DeVita’s Fable explores the nature of memory through the eyes of show-biz sisters June Havoc and Gypsy Rose Lee, whose stories waver between truth and fiction. 8/9-9/8. https://bit.ly/freefall-fable
Here comes rhymin’ Ronán Jobsite Theater presents Ronán Noone’s The Smuggler: A Thriller In Verse starring Giles Davies. Irish immigrant Tim Finnegan wants to be a writer in America but struggles to find his path in this, one-man, rhyming-verse dark comedy. 8/14-25 at the Straz. https://bit.ly/jobsite-smuggler
Make music and grow young Gather at GCAA Artists In Residence in St. Pete each Saturday from 2-3pm to create music with drumming, percussion, and other instruments. No music experience necessary. Contact Kathleen Seersha at kbella200@gmail.com or 727-608-3054. https://bit.ly/clh-events
If it’s August it must be GeckoFest Our own Marlene Maki Shaw dreamed up Gulfport’s end-of-summer all-things-gecko wingding, which includes a street festival (8/31), bar crawl (8/17), and ball (8/24). Details in her column Gulfport Matters. https://bit.ly/gecko-2024
The Dalí Museum welcomes the Fulton Chamber Players 8/27, 6-7pm for an evening of musical accompaniment to its special exhibition, Reimagining Nature: Dalí’s Floral Fantasies.https://bit.ly/dali-chamber
Affordable fun Take the family to Henry Plant Museum on the second Saturday of the month – it’s free! Afternoon tours and entertainment too. Check the website for times and programs. www.plantmuseum.com
Piece of (cup)cake The Morean Arts Center invites you to taste-test your way through its city-wide search for St. Pete’s MOST ARTISTIC CUPCAKES! This decadent fundraising event features submissions categorized by youth/teen, novice, professional, and gluten-free. Sample and vote for your fave. Pre-register to get a dozen of your choice. 9/24, 12-3pm. https://bit.ly/morean-cupcakes
But wait there’s more! Don’t miss the Morean’s annual Art Yard Sale, where you can find great deals on art and miscellaneous items from $1 to $100. Along with Morean-owned items, you’ll meet local artists and pick up something from them as well. 9/14, 9am-1pm. www.moreanartscenter.org/art-yard-sale
Thursday night out Enjoy Art on the House at the Tampa Museum of Art every Thursday. From 4-8 pm you’re invited to choose your own admission price. Bring the family and celebrate 100 years of art in Tampa. www.tampamuseum.org
Opportunities Florida CraftArt invites artists working in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, sculpture, or wood to apply for its 2024 Emerging Artist Program. Juried artists receive a package valued over $1,000 including mentoring, marketing material, and a one-year Florida CraftArt membership. Deadline 8/31. https://bit.ly/emerging-fl-artists
Applications for the St. Pete Arts Alliance 2024 Individual Artist Grants are open! Grants provide up to $5,000 for artist-driven projects that benefit the public and enrich the community of St. Pete by advancing artistic excellence and increasing access to innovative and diverse arts experiences. All creative genres welcome. Deadline 8/21. https://bit.ly/arts-alliance-2024-grants
Further afield The Helen M. Salzberg Visiting Artist Fellowship at Palm Beach State College is open to any Florida artist. The one-year fellowship provides a $6,000 endowment, plus $1,000 for travel, to act as a mentor (in person or virtually) and participate in an exhibit at the HMS Fine Art Gallery. https://bit.ly/pbs-salzberg
Lookin’ good The Buena Vista Social Club composer, arranger, and trombonist Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos supplies Afro-Cuban jazz to the Mahaffey with his Buena Vista Orchestra. 9/30 at 8pm. https://bit.ly/mahaffey-vista